""A heart always for others, it was a heart full of humor, a hand always open and an ear always open." Words from a poem by the author of a book I just got finished reading, about the subject of the book. A Doorway to Heroism: A decorated German-Jewish Soldier Who Became an American Hero by W.Jack Romberg was the biography of Jack Romberg's uncle and to a lesser extent his father, Rudi Romberg. Both Rudi and RIchard were born in Germany. Richard Stern may be the only person to have earned an Iron Cross for bravery in WW I, and a Silver Stark, an extremely high honor, in WW II. His WW II medalwas for his bravery in verbally staring down opposing Nazis in taking Mt. Porchia in Italy on or about January 7, 1944. One of the early migrants from Germany, having met the anti-Jewish immigration quotas in 1937 or 1938, Richard Stern was determined to enlist in the U.S. Army for European combat, though he was well past draft age. Ditto Rudi Romberg, father of the author. Page 154 of the book expresses it best: "Uncle Richard (Stern) then wrote, 'don't ever forget, or our joint fight was in vain.'." His words were a critical, eternal teaching."

I was moved to read this book when Rabbi Jack Romberg, retired in 2019, lectured at my Men's Club on Sunday morning, November 13. To me, other than cheesy self-improvement tracts, books that impart life values are rare. This one takes the cake. ( )